For many people, coffee is synonymous with energy, but there are still many people who drink it to… to sleep! Moreover, being drowsy after a cup of coffee is a perfectly natural reaction of a healthy body. But why, for some people, coffee is an effective energy drink that allows endless hours playing the best live casino online in Canada, and for others – the best sleeping pills? We searched for the answer together with our experts and will be happy to have a constructive discussion with you in the comments.
After Coffee, Everyone Wants to Sleep
Coffee contains two natural organic substances, the alkaloids caffeine, and theobromine, which have different effects on the central nervous system. If the caffeine, which is in the upper shell of the bean, dilates the kidney vessels and narrows all the others, the theobromine from the inner shell has the opposite effect: it lowers the pressure, dilates the blood vessels, etc.
First, after you drink a cup of coffee, caffeine begins to act, having a bright and invigorating effect on the body. Caffeine is an antagonist of adenosine, which is responsible in our body for the accumulation of sleepiness during wakefulness. Caffeine temporarily suppresses the accumulation of adenosine, causing a rush of energy and alertness.
But this effect does not last as long as you might think. After about 20 to 25 minutes of caffeine, theobromine, another very useful alkaloid, comes on the scene and relaxes the body, positively affects cognitive abilities and even increases mood. But only if your body is not exhausted by endless sleepless nights and does not need a quality rest. Otherwise, you are very likely to want to sleep. Some experts believe that if exactly at this time (20 minutes after the cup of coffee) to drink a glass of water, you can neutralize this effect by restoring the water-salt balance.
This is exactly the reason there is such a cardinally opposite effect of grain and instant coffee on people, although both are made from the same bean. The fact is that instant coffee is made from the inner shell of the bean, and there is much more theobromine in it than caffeine.
The 30 Kilometer Effect
Sad statistic. Most accidents on highways are recorded at a distance of 30-50 kilometers from a settlement or roadside cafe. This phenomenon even has a name: the trucker effect or 30th kilometer. In fact, this is a consequence of the effects of theobromine, when half an hour after a cup of an invigorating drink you suddenly feel sleepy.
Many people consider this to be no more than a myth, but there is certainly some truth to it. Even a liter of coffee will not save you from severe fatigue – only a good rest will do. After all, coffee itself does not give energy, it just helps to cheer up the body for a while. And when the central nervous system is severely overloaded, the addition of caffeine in the body causes the opposite effect – in fact, the instinct of self-preservation is triggered and the CNS simply turns you off.
So What, Don’t Drink Coffee at All?
Not at all. Coffee is one of the most effective things you can do to cheer yourself up. Coffee really works. Especially when you need to wake up your brain quickly before an important meeting. Or when you drink coffee purely for pleasure, not for functional purposes. To enjoy the taste of this fragrant beverage. Coffee has a rich chemical composition and a huge list of health benefits that have made it an indispensable drink, a favorite of millions of people around the world.
But, for example, if you are a driver, on a long trip give preference to tea. Tea has more caffeine (especially green tea) and its effect on the body is much longer than an espresso.
If you have a hard week with a series of endless deadlines, with sleepless nights and nervous negotiations, coffee can also be a bad assistant for you. Before you know it, you’ll consume more and more cups without feeling invigorated and energized, which will completely deplete your body. As an interesting alternative, try brewing some Puerh. When paired with a piece of dark chocolate, this tea can help you stay focused and improve your mood.
How Not to Fall Asleep After Coffee
In fact, all people have the same receptors, so the effect of coffee is more or less the same. But we should not forget that the reaction of each particular body is influenced by many factors:
- whether you’re drinking Arabica or Robusta;
- whether you order an espresso or a latte;
- whether you’ve had 100 ml or 300 at once;
- whether your blood pressure is low or high.
You can only know your individual reaction to coffee by experience. Still, there are a number of factors that may play a role:
- Milk or cream greatly attenuates the effects of caffeine – so a tired person will fall asleep faster after a cappuccino or latte.
- If the cup of coffee was preceded by a heavy lunch or a hearty afternoon snack, the energy boost may not happen either.
- Drinking water after coffee reduces the concentration of caffeine. But there won’t be a big jump between a burst of vigor and sleepiness either.
- You can enhance the effect of coffee by drinking, for example, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice – some of its substances block liver enzymes, so as a result, the caffeine lasts longer.
- Many caffeine addicts also notice a so-called caffeine tolerance at some point. When the usual portion does not give energy, and after an additional cup you want to sleep even more. In this case, a temporary refusal of your favorite drink works well.
